Shareworld University, Matindi College fight over MCP building

Drama erupted Monday afternoon in Blantyre when two tenants, Shareworld Open University and Matindi Business College fought over tenancy of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) building.

The building, which used to be MCP Southern Region offices situated at Chichiri, has for the past 20 years, been used as Shareworld Open University campus.

However, the university management was shocked Monday afternoon when some officials from Matindi Business College stormed the premises and started inspecting the property ready for an immediate occupation.

The “strangers” claimed they paid rentals to owners- MCP- and were given a nod to use the entire down floor which houses classrooms for the university.

MCP building where shareworld has been operating in Blantyre

But eye witnesses told Nyasa Times Shareworld officials present during the pandemonium insisted that the ground floor space belonged to them because they also paid the rentals.

“The situation was so bad that officials from the two educational institutions started calling each other names while putting the blame on the landlord,” said an eye witness.

And a Nyasa Times crew that visited the premises Tuesday morning found that Shareworld had locked up the building and kept the keys.

But the move did not falter Matindi College’s efforts as they improvised an open space at the main entrance which they were using as a reception.

Our effort to get their formal sides of the story proved futile as officials present from both institutions refused to comment on the issue but they both vowed to occupy and use the structure despite the differences.

“We will continue using the building. We have been here for many years. MCP is to blame for allowing two tenants at once,” one of Shareworld junior staff members present was overheard talking on top of his voice.

On the other hand, another member from Matindi was also heard saying: “MCP has given the entire floor ground to us and so we are going to smoke Shareworld out from its classrooms. We are going to use those classrooms. We hear Shareworld has been defaulting payment and our bwanas [bosses] have paid rentals.”

There was no immediate official comment from the landlord as MCP Regional Chairman for the South, Dennis Nanthumba, refused to say anything.

However, Nanthumba was once accused by tenants of renting out the former ruling party’s buildings to several tenants at once, a situation that forced some members of the regional committee to ask for his removal.

As the premises remained locked up on Tuesday, it remains to be seen how
Shareworld University will conduct its classes from Wednesday.